Phool Bangla at Sri Kanak Bhawan, Ayodhya Photo Journal

Anisha

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What is a Phool Bangla?

Vrindavan has a tradition of Phool Bangalas to keep the summer heat away from Sri Radha Krishna. The temple is converted into a palace made of flowers. Sri Banke Bihari temple has Phool Bangalas everyday from the festival of Akshay Teej to Saavan Hariyali Amavasya. Bihariji’s clothes are also made of flowers, when a Phool Bangla is made.

Phool Bangla at Sri Kanak Bhawan, Ayodhya

Kanak Bhawanin Ayodhya is the palace of Sri Sita and Rama. It was a welcome gift to Sita from her mother-in-law Kaikeyi. Kanak Bhawan still exists in Ayodhya. It has a tradition of Sringar Bhakti. The divine couple is handled with love along with respect. Varied expression of this love for the divine is an intrinsic part of sadhna here. Raga, Sringar and Bhog seva holds good here.

Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu came with a mission to establish law and order, is generally treated with high regard, while Krishna came to love and be loved and is popular as an lovable, approachable personal friend. At Kanak Bhawan, the worship of Sita Ram is akin to that of Sri Radha Krishna in Vrindavan. Madhurabhakti is evident in festive celebrations, songs and the bhaav of pleasing the divine. Phool Banglas are an offering of love to please the divine couple, and shield them from the North Indian summer heat.

Arti at Kanak Bhawan

Sri Kanak Bihari darshan

Phool Banglas are an offering of love to please the divine couple, and shield them from the North Indian summer heat.

Kaikeyi is mother-in-law too to Sita, due to her relation as step-mother to Ram. As a mother she gifted the Kanak Bhawan to Sita as a welcome gift.
Ram was definitely conscious of all his responsibilities as ruler, son, brother and husband. He said to Kaikeyi, सुनु जननी सोई सुत बड़्भागी जो पितु मात बचन अनुरागी, when he learnt his mother Kaikeyi's wish for exile for him. Sita ji sacrificed a lot for Ram, but did not view it as sacrifice, because of her love for him. She did not retort even when Ram sent her away to the forest due to public pressure. Yet, when Ram was exiled she refused to be left behind in the palace. Krishna may have left Vraj to fulfill his responsibilities in Mathura/Dwarika, yet his heart was always in Vraj with the Gopis. Even as the Gopis chide Udhav for not realising Krishna's presence in Vraj even when he was not physically present. Udhav returned to Krishna in Mathura after becoming a disciple of the Vraj Gopis. Krishna is amazing. Ram is predictable. Both have a special way of bringing the soul back home :-)

anisha on

Kaushalya was Sita's mother-in-law and not Kaikeyi. Mother Sita sacrificed everything for her husband and even stayed away at his instruction so that he could carry on his responsibilities without conjugal distraction. A ruler for whom his subjects were paramount. Even Lord Krishna went to rule leaving his childhood accomplices and friends so that he could carry out his resp in Dwarika.